The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-07-08
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wnEELiso. W. VA, JULY 8, 1887.
Tho Andover Controversy.


Andoyer Theological Seminary has gone
against proi. smyth, the head Of the instl.
tuition, who WAS arraigued for teaching the
ology at variance with thestandsrda OF tho
Congregational Church on the question oil
probation after death aB regards those who
have not had opportunity to know and
embrace tho gospel in this lille. n
This controversy grew out OF the meet
ing OF the Foreign Missionary Society Of
the Church several montbs ago, wherein
1t was charged that young men had been
sent out from tho Seminary as misalona.
rles who did not hold to the Westminster
Catechjsm 40 respects the Loaf condition
Of such OF the human race as were not
saved before death by compliance with
the conditions OF the gospel, but on the
contrary held that the heather might en-
Joy period Of probation in the next liie,
and that their final atate might not be de-
termined until they had enjoyed this
opportunity.
1twas charged that this ia heresy, and
that 1t Ia enbyerHivs Of the fundamental
idea Of the Church in sending out mission.
ries at oil to heather lands, for Il the
heathen are to have chance in the next
lie why seek to convert them in this life.
The special point brought out in the
trial Of Prof. suyth was that the original
endowment OF the Seminary was be.
sueathed to it on tho condition that it
should teach tho strict theology Of the
Westminster Confession on this and other
points Of faith, and tina. the faith OF the
donors as respects the heather was en-
bodied in tho following article OF the Con-
iession: Ga.
That Adam, the federal head and rep
rcsentatiye Of the human race, was placed
in state OF probation, and thst in couse.
quence Of his disobedience all his descend-
ants were constituted sinners; that by ma
turey every MIN ID personally depraved,
destitute Of holiness, unlike and opposed
to God, and that previously to the renew
ing agency OF the Divine Spirit all his
moral actions arc adverse to the character
and glory OF God; that, being morally in
capable OF recovering the image Of his
Creator, which was lost in Adam, every
man is Justly exposed to eternal damna-
ton, 60 that except man be born again
he cannot see tho Kingdom OF God; that
God, OF His mere good pleasure, from all
eternity, elects some to everlasting life,
aud that He entered into covenant Of
grace to deliver them out OF this state OF
sin and misery By Redeemer; that per-
severance in holiness is the only method
OF making eur calling end election sure;
that they who arc eflcctuslly called do in
this lie partaEe Of publication, adoption
and sanctitieatlor, and the several bene-
its which do either accompany or flow
from them tina. the souls OF believere are
at their death made perfect in holiness
and do Immediately pass into glory, but
( that the wicked will awake to shame and
everlasting contempt, and with devils be
plunged into the lake that burneth with
fire and birthstone forever and ever.
It waa not denied on the part Of the de-
tense that this article Of tho creed, liter
orally interpreted, did teach what was
claimed, viz the hopeIesa condition OF ali,
including the heather, who died without
having been "'born again" in this life.
But Prof smyth claimed that his teach
inss with reference to this dogma were in
accordance With the latitude allowed by
''the well underatood aud commonly
recognized laws OF creed accop!anco," and
did not no. violence to it. Ho did not
hold that tho hesthen absolutely 4costla
but simply that they nigh! have a chance
in the next lie, sseing they had no
chance IN this one. In other words, in.
fitting out young men 10, the ministry,
he did not teach them tha. the heather
would be certainly lost unless tho gospel
was preached to them and thoy obeyod it;
in this lie. This, the prosecution held,
he should have taught. p &
{. 1t visa further urged on the part Of the
defense that the doctrine Of the creed,
literally interpreted, was repulDiye to the
hoathen, for they had great reverence
for the memory OF their ancestors, and
were not willing to conceds the justcs OF
sending them to a plsce Of torment sim.
ply because the, ,,,i had not had the proper
chance In this lie.
There, was much more that was curious
and interesting on both sides brought for.
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